10 Horror Movies Based on True Events
Horror movies are meant to scare you, but when the story is based on true events it makes the experience even more terrifying. Sometimes, the things that happen in real life are far more disturbing than anything a writer would come up with, and those stories serve as a guaranteed way to scare people silly. Here are ten horror movies that were based on true events, and the actual stories may shock you more than the movies themselves.
1. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The character of Leatherface was inspired by Ed Gein, a Wisconsin man who, in 1957, was arrested for committing two murders as well as digging up the corpses of countless other women who reminded him of his dead mother. He skinned the bodies to make lamp shades, socks and a “woman suit” in hopes of becoming a woman. He was found to be insane and spent the rest of his life in a mental institution.
2. The Exorcist
Based on an article author and screenwriter William Peter Blatty read in college at Georgetown University about an exorcism performed on a 13-year-old boy in Mount Rainier, Maryland in 1949.
3. Jaws
Based on a series of shark attacks that took place on the New Jersey shore in 1916. Over 12 days in July five people were attacked, four fatally. A seven-foot-long great white shark was caught and killed, and when it was cut open it’s stomach was found to contain human remains.
4. Amityville horror
Based on the Lutz family, who in 1975, moved into a house where Butch Defeo murdered his entire family. The house is said to have been haunted, and the family experienced all kinds of paranormal activity to the point of abandoning the residence.
5. The Hills Have Eyes
Based on the legend of Sawney Bean, who in the 15th century is believed to have murdered and ate over 1000 people in Scotland.
6. The Blob
Based on an incident that happened in Pennsylvania in 1950 in which an unusual substance known as star jelly that was 6-foot diameter, 1-foot high mass was found by policemen. Star jelly is still randomly found throughout the world today.
7. The Entity
Based on the case of California resident Carla Moran who’s life was tormented by a sexually charged paranormal being starting in 1974. This case was investigated extensively and is among one of the top known cases.
8. Bram Stokers Dracula
Based on Vlad The Impaler, a 15th century Romanian prince who would torture and impale his enemies. He is said to have killed over 80,000 people. Vlad also went by the name Dracula.
9. From Hell
Based on Jack the Ripper who was one of England’s most famous serial killers, even though nobody knows who he was. Jack was responsible for five murders in 1888, and his identity still remains a mystery.
10. Open Water
Based on a married couple named Tom and Eileen Lonergan who, in January 1998, disappeared off Australia’s Great Barrier Reef after a diving company accidentally left them behind in the water. The company that left them there realized two days later and went back only to find a bag containing their wallet and passports. Their bodies were never found, and was never proven that they were actually eaten by sharks.
